Disability in the Arts: Peter Longstaff

In this article, Benjamin Franklin is talking about Rev. George Whitefield. Benjamin Franklin did not like Whitefield at first, but they ended up forming an interesting friendship. Both of these men were powerful influences during their lifetime.

            Franklin describes Whitefield as all the clergy taking an instantaneous dislike to him, so it was hard to be able to preach which Whitefield was an evangelist of the Great Awakening. Even though this group did not care for him, many others admired and respected him. He would have hundreds of people come and hear him preach. He was a very likeable man among the crowd.

            Franklin soon attended one of his Sermons, and had a mindset that Whitefield would receive no money from him.  He ended up emptying all of his pockets into the collection. The reason being was that as Whitefield approached him expecting an offering, Franklin softened. He concluded that he felt ashamed because of his later friend’s oratory. Therefore, he gave it all.

            He notes about his friend’s integrity as well and gives him the upmost highest review. Some of the people believed that some of the collection taken would end up in Whitefield’s own private profit, but this according the Franklin would not happen. He was very acquainted with him and never once thought that he would do something like that. The reason for being so sure was that had been employed in printing some of his friend’s sermons and journals.